Newsletters

Forty-three percent of Americans spent more time planning their most recent vacation than planning for their retirement.^1
1 AARP, 2008

Will you outlive your retirement income?  How much liability insurance should you have? Should you add stocks to your portfolio?  Are your financial expectations for the coming year realistic?

Our financial newsletters are designed to provide helpful information on a wide variety of financial topics.  Simply click on one of the newsletter topics below to read the article in its entirety.

---

• March

  Don't Let a Disability Cripple Your Family's Finances
  One way to help protect against the financial ruin that a disability can bring is through disability income insurance.

  Working for Social Security
  There's nothing wrong with wanting to work in retirement, but if you decide to earn some extra income, make sure you understand how it will affect your Social Security benefits.

  A Simple Way to Help Your Family
  A letter of instructions, while not a legal document, can help your family cope during a difficult period by providing information that has no place in a will.

• February

  Are You Making These Cash Mistakes?
  With interest rates at historic lows, what should you do with the money you save?

  Patching the Alternative Minimum Tax
  The future of the AMT is uncertain, yet it is important to consider the possible effects of the AMT on your tax situation.

  Tips for Healthy Life Insurance
  If you are about to retire or have recently entered retirement, it's a good time to consider whether your current life insurance policy meets your needs.

  What Does a Fed Chairman Do?
  The Federal Reserve plays an important role in our economy, and the chairman is its most visible player. His behavior is a good source of clues about what the future may hold.

• January

  The Benefits of Social Security
  Take this quiz to assess how much you know about Social Security benefits.

  When Tea Leaves Won't Do
  Economic indicators can be a good source of clues about trends, but it takes experience and skill to interpret their meaning.

• December

  Hot Topic: 2010: The Year of the Roth Conversion?
  Starting in 2010, anyone, regardless of income, can convert retirement plan assets to a Roth IRA.

  Mark Your Calendar
  Once we approach the end of our working years, birthdays take on a renewed importance.

• November

  The Measure of a Life
  One way to help mitigate the financial blow of the loss of a head of household is through life insurance.

  Confident in Consumer Confidence?
  The consumer confidence index can be a useful tool, but it should play only a minor role in an investor’s overall outlook.

  Playing Catch-Up with Contributions
  Something as simple as increasing your contributions to tax-advantaged retirement programs can go a long way toward helping you pursue your long-term financial goals.

  Measuring the Jobs Situation
  Many people understand that a rising jobless rate is one of the hallmarks of a shrinking economy. But the national unemployment rate does not always reveal a complete picture of the jobs outlook.

• October

  HOT TOPIC: Moving Forward from the Credit Crisis
  On Monday, September 15, 2008, the country awoke to news that three of the nation's largest financial institutions were unable to survive without help. Now, more than a year after that fateful September day, the economy shows signs of stability.

  Estate Conservation You Can Trust
  Trusts are popular estate conservation tools that can help facilitate the smooth transfer of estate assets and maintain the family’s privacy.

  Fixed Annuities May Offer Stability
  A source of guaranteed income may help remove some of the uncertainty associated with retiring when the financial markets are fluctuating.

  Get Ready for Earnings Season
  Earnings can provide a key to understanding the performance of an individual company and the behavior of the stock market in general.

• August

  HOT TOPIC: Michael Jackson's Eccentricities Did Not Extend to His Estate Plan
  Critics are calling Michael Jackson's estate plan a hit. What did the King of Pop do right?

  Note to Self: Check Beneficiary Designations
  Outdated beneficiary forms have the potential to cause needless grief and hardship for surviving loved ones who are your intended heirs.

  Still Time for Stimulus Benefits
  The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 offers some short-term tax benefits designed to encourage consumer activity and boost particular sectors of the economy.

• July

  HOT TOPIC: Looking for a Recovery in Odd Places
  Are signs of an economic recovery showing up in hemlines and lipstick sales?

  It's Not Too Late to Consider Life Insurance
  Results from one survey suggest that confidence in financial security tends to increase as life insurance coverage increases.

  Good Care Begins Early
  Ironically, people who avoid important discussions because they don’t want to be a burden are sowing seeds for even greater troubles because they are forestalling preparation and ignoring the risks associated with aging, possibly until it’s too late.

  Stalking the Mighty Consumer
  Economists, traders, investors, and policymakers all take great interest in the financial health of consumers and what they may do next.

• May

  Celebrate Life and the Benefits of Insuring It
  In addition to the protection it can bring, life insurance can also offer some tax benefits.

  A Question of Identity
  Not only is identity theft costly, it can also be a major hassle that affects a person’s credit score for years. The key to preventing ID theft is awareness.

  The Land of Income Mobility
  In America, just about anyone who is dissatisfied with his income has the opportunity to roll up his sleeves and move into a different income bracket.

• April

  Never Too Old—or Too Rich—to Consider Life Insurance
  There are many possible reasons to consider owning life insurance, even if you have convinced yourself that it's no longer necessary in your situation.

  Income Now or Later
  Immediate and deferred fixed annuities are insurance products that could help retirees safeguard some of their nest eggs and provide a steady income stream throughout retirement.

  Separate Your Business from Your Portfolio
  Allocating too much of your investment capital to one company — even your own — is a risky proposition.